20-ish Things You Still Want to Do This Summer

While the benchmark for a summer well-spent may vary from person to person, something that’s fairly universal is a rush to get certain things done. A Summerween party, for example, is on Tyler Roberts’s radar. Ear piercings? Golda Grais is still mustering up the courage. And a once-a-year plum is the exclamation point to Kathy O’Neill​’s summer.

Hundreds of readers responded to this Style-section question: What’s left on your summer bucket list? Some of them are relishing old traditions and opportunities to play, while others (OK, one responder) can’t wait for the season to end.

Here’s an edited selection of what readers told us. Tell us in the comments how you make the most of what remains in the summer season.

The classics

Jumping off the pier for my 61st year in a row.

— Gretchen LeBuhn, Corte Madera, Calif.

Driving away from the city to see the meteor showers!

— Jennifer Roe, Prairie Village, Kan.

Read (or just finish) a novel. I had an ambitious summer reading list, but my choices fell flat and I’ve failed to finish one book this season!

— Courtney Tudor, Ewa Beach, Hawaii

Swim in a river.
Make out with someone.
Bake a peach pie.

— Sarah Nealon, Portland, Ore.

Few more beach trips. Visit the Detroit Institute of Arts. Chappell Roan dance party! Host a Summerween party. Go stargazing.

— Tyler Roberts, Lansing, Mich.

Trying something new

There’s a roller coaster at a local amusement park that I haven’t been able to ride yet. At age 72, I don’t want to wait much longer! This weekend I will take my three grandsons on it and see which one of us can scream the loudest.

— Jeanne Neidenbach, Green Bay, Wis.

Becoming American. I’m a Canadian, and after 20 years of living in the United States I submitted my application for citizenship. They said it would take seven months, but after only four months, and in the middle of my summer vacation in Canada, I got notice that my interview is scheduled for later this August. What remains on my summer bucket list is to study for the American civics exam and return from Canada to take it. Fingers crossed I can vote as an American for the first time this fall.

— Gary Fowlie, New York, N.Y.

I swore up and down to several friends that I’d get my earlobes pierced this summer. At 22, I’m getting around to it a lot later than most. My older sister got her ears pierced at 13. Many of my friends at school have been sporting fun accessories on their ears for years: large silver hoops that nearly brush their shoulders, twinkling gems on their rook or tragus, or dangling charms in the shape of everything from turtles to bubble tea.

In May, I was determined to return to campus with cool earrings of my own, but every time the opportunity has risen, I just haven’t felt ready. Maybe I’ll end up bummed come September that I wasn’t able to follow through on the commitment, but then I remember that my mom walked into a Claire’s at age 45. It’s never too late to make my life a little more fabulous.

— Golda Grais, Chicago

Summer eats

Enjoying Glidden Point (Maine) oysters, preferably shucked by someone else!

— Carmen Duarte, Boston

Eating my way through a box of emerald beaut plums. They come in season once a year in late August and are one of the best fruits I’ve ever had — a quantum leap better than any fruit I can buy in the supermarket. I look forward to them every year as a capstone to summer.

— Kathy O’Neill​, Chevy Chase, Md.

Get sunburned while eating an entire watermelon by the pool.

— Emma Cooper, Boulder, Colo.

For the kids

Sleeping in the garden shed. My children are so much looking forward to it, but I am afraid of raccoons or mice that might come visiting.

— Sabine Hauke, Berlin

1) Prep for a new curriculum for my sixth-grade social studies class (I’m a teacher and am procrastinating).

2) I want to get my dining room chairs recovered.

— Leslie Kornsgold, East Windsor, N.J.

Taking our toddler on one of those boats you paddle with your feet at Green Lake.

A few more open-faced tomato sandwiches with extra mayo.

Continuing once-a-day ice cream.

— Andreea Niculescu, Seattle

Free lemonade stand with my almost 7-year-old — a family tradition.

— Jennifer Rodriguez Pippins, Silver Spring, Md.

Ambitions and long-term plans

I’d still like to fall in love.

— Amanda Yen, New York, N.Y.

My friend Jelly and I have two weeks between when summer jobs end and our colleges start back up. We’re going to meet up most days and develop some skills before we are separated. We’ve got a list.

Free mount Jelly’s six-foot unicycle, do a handstand, whistle with two fingers, juggle four balls at once, chug a water bottle in two seconds, do a back flip, moonwalk, learn origami with napkins, memorize a book of the Bible and only text each other in Morse code.

It’s a bit ambitious. We’ll see how the two weeks goes.

— Hayes Brown, Greenville, S.C.

I am 73 years old and part of my summer bucket list is to determine how I want to continue my career. I typically change my career work every 10 to 15 years and this is the time for a new revision. From clinical psychologist to small business health care owner to corporate health care executive to organizational consultant psychologist to author. I am ready for a change and hope to have it figured out before Labor Day.

— Richard Citrin, Pittsburgh

Out of season

Our summer here in San Diego starts when the tourists go home. September and October are what we call “locals summer.” That’s when we locals start our bucket list.

— Sara Joseph, Encinitas, Calif.

Going to burst the “good news” bubble: I can’t wait for summer to end. I dread the summer heat and insects and noise — and I find clear blue, cloud-free skies utterly oppressive. Practically speaking, I hope to not collapse from heat stroke and/or poor air quality. Hope to see you soon, autumn!

— Evyan Horton, Seattle